Brendan Rodgers happy for Swansea City to take passing risks

Rangel lost possession seconds before Hernandez put Manchester United ahead

Manager Brendan Rodgers insists Swansea City will stick to their passing principles despite gifting Manchester United victory on Saturday.

Angel Rangel's poor pass near his own penalty area led to United's winning goal as Ryan Giggs set up Javier Hernandez at the Liberty Stadium.

But Rodgers wants his players to keep taking risks at the back instead of clearing the ball aimlessly up field.

"The blame is on me, I ask the players to play that way," he said.

"He [Rangel] could have had his touch and smashed the ball up the pitch, he was just slightly off balance trying to play around the corner.

"But we look to pass our way out of trouble. The main thing to learn from it was that Ryan Giggs, who was brilliant even though he is almost as old as me, took a great touch into the box and they scored.

"That is the reality of playing the top sides, but we are learning all the time.

"Angel has been fantastic so there is no blame on him at all."

Despite the set-back of conceding such an early goal, Swansea should have levelled 10 minutes later.

Scott Sinclair was unmarked at the far post as he waited for Wayne Routledge's cross, but the winger fluffed his shot from six yards.

"That was the difference, they took their chance, we didn't take ours," added Rodgers.

"When you see the clip, and Scott is very disappointed, the ground he made up to get there was pleasing.

"He is bitterly disappointed as that was a straightforward chance really.

"It was an open goal seven yards out, but I was pleased he got there and if he keeps getting in there the goals will come."

Hernandez became the first opposition player to score at the Liberty Stadium this season - as Swansea's only previous concession in five home games was a Danny Graham own goal.

Giggs, making his first league appearance in his homeland, said he was impressed by the home side's performance.

"It's a tough place to come, their record this season shows that," said the former Wales captain.

"We knew it would be tough, and sometimes it happens that we get the early goal and sit back, and we shouldn't have done that really.

"We can't make any excuses, we need to play better if we're going to get more positive results."

Despite the disappointment of the first home defeat this season, Rodgers was upbeat after seeing his side stay within striking distance of the reigning champions throughout the match.

"In the second half we were more like ourselves," he said.

"We were terrific. We got on the ball and showed the courage we've showed all season.

"When we do that we're a real threat and we can play against the top teams.

"We had two different halves - the second half was more what we've been like for most of the season and I took great pride in watching the players perform like that against a top team."